Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1887-10-07

the people of the Commonwealth.
That man does not count for much
who cannot look back over the last
quarter of a century and see that
the rule of the republican party has
been of inestimable benefit to this
country. 1t has abolished evils and
abuses which menaced the very ex-
istence of the government, and has
espoused and borne on to success
some of the grandest reforms of the
age. thas been a party of earnest
convictions and greatest achieve
ments. Stamp out from the histo-
~ of the United States the things
which have been accomplished by
the republican party, and we would
find very much less OF that pride Of
country which beats In American
hearts to-day. The aims of the re-
publican party are just as high to-
day as they were at any time in its
illustriOus past. 1t has gathered
strength with age and experience,
and il is now stronger in all the
elements which have won for it the
confidence and respect OF the bet.
ter class of people than ever before.
1t is no uncommon thing to hear
men say that there is no great diff
ference between parties; that one
party is about as good as another,
and it is of no consequence as to
which of the two is placed in pow
er. When we consider the manner
in which the energies of the two
leading parties ofthis country have
been employed during the last two
or three decades, and compare the
existing condition of things with
what would be had the opponent
of the republican party succeeded
in its avowed aims and intentions,
we wonder how any man of sense
can make such an assertion. Nor
is 1t any credit to a mans lntelli-
gence to express himself in the
same vein with regard to the fu.
ture. Hero are two political par.
ties whose views upon the public
questions now approaching final
settlement are Numerically Oppo.
site. Some of these questions are
of such browning Importance as to
arouse the people to exertlons which
they have never felt the need of
putting forth in behalf of any which
have come before them. Does the
success or failure of these two par.
ties mean precisely the same thing
Is it a matter of no interest to us
which succeeds?
The rule of the republican party
has given us benefits and blessings
which we're denied to those who liv.
ed few genera ions ago. These
benefits did not come by accident.
They are the outcome of the earnest
effort and persistent labor of some.
body. Ii is safe tOsayt hat those who |
to bring them about did |
not belong to the class which thinks |
there is no difference in political
parties. On the contrary they were
firmly Of the opinion that there was
a difference as wide as the antipOdes
and counted it we'll worth the great.
est personal sacrifice to turn that
to the advantage Of them.
selves and their children. And yet
we hear those who are living in the
enjoyment of these bless
ings tO.day-blessings which were
purchased for them by others at the
cost of untold hardship, and suf-
ferings, aud personal---very. that
parties are just about alike, there
Is nothing to be gained by contend
Ing In tue interest of one or against
the other. tits not difficult to fore.
tell what would be the fate of the
state if stronger and better men
than this did not recognize the
need of exercising watchfOl guar,
1ianship over the affairs of govern,
nent.